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The IRA Starts Disarming

The BBC is reporting that the Irish Republican Army have, in an unprecedented move, put some weapons "beyond use". The destruction of arms is done in cooperation with the IICD (Independent International Commission on Decommissioning), who have yet to confirm the news. From the IRA statement:

The Political process is now on the point of collapse. Such a collapse would certainly and eventually put the overall peace process in jeopardy. There is a responsibility upon everyone seriously committed to a just peace to do our best to avoid this. Therefore, in order to save the peace process we have implemented the scheme agreed with the IICD in August. Our motivation is clear. This unprecedented move is to save the peace process and to persuade others of our genuine intentions.

It's comforting to see the IRA displaying will to negotiate and opt for a peaceful solution, despite the old roots and violent past of this conflict. Hopefully this will be the breakthrough that the Ireland peace process needs, and hopefully the lessons learned here can be used to some effect to broker a peace in the middle east.